Reporting Accountant

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Finance Team at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust as a Reporting Accountant. As Reporting Accountant, you will play a key role in the Trust's financial reporting processes, supporting the production of monthly finance returns, Board reporting, financial planning, costing and budget-setting activities. You will work closely with senior finance colleagues, supporting important organisational decision-making and ensuring that financial information is accurate, robust and delivered to demanding deadlines.

Oxford Health is committed to developing finance professionals and helping colleagues achieve their career ambitions. We are proud to be an accredited employer for AAT, ACCA and CIMA, providing a supportive environment for professional study and development. Our Finance Department has a strong track record of investing in staff, with many colleagues progressing into more senior roles across the organisation.

The promotion of the current post holder demonstrates the opportunities available for career progression within the team. If you are looking for a role that will challenge and develop you while making a meaningful contribution to healthcare services across Oxfordshire and beyond.

You will take a lead role in the preparation and submission of the Trust's monthly national finance returns (PFR), ensuring regulatory deadlines are met and reporting is completed accurately. You will support the production of financial reports, performance dashboards and Board reports, providing clear analysis and commentary to support the Trust's financial governance arrangements.

• Completion of monthly national finance returns (PFR) and supporting regulatory submissions.
• Producing financial analysis, reports, graphs and dashboards for senior management and Board reporting.
• Supporting Trust-wide Cost Improvement Programme (CIP) reporting and analysis.
• Producing temporary staffing reports and performance analysis.
• Maintaining reserves reporting and budget reconciliations.
• Supporting month-end processes, including completion of journals and review of reporting templates.
• Responding to financial information requests, including Freedom of Information enquiries.
• Providing financial insight and analysis to support organisational decision-making.

The role will support the annual budget-setting process and long-term financial planning activities across the Trust. You will assist in translating approved financial plans into operational budgets and ensure changes are properly reflected within financial systems.

Responsibilities include:

• Supporting the development and maintenance of annual, medium-term and long-term financial plans.
• Completing budget journals and adjustments to reflect agreed plans and funding allocations.
• Supporting the allocation and monitoring of Cost Improvement Programme targets.
• Maintaining accurate records of reserve allocations and budget movements.
• Producing planning reports, reconciliations and workforce planning information.
• Supporting the completion of annual planning returns and external submissions.

You will contribute to the Trust's costing and benchmarking activities, helping ensure robust financial information is available to support service and operational decision-making. This area of work provides an excellent opportunity to develop specialist knowledge in NHS costing methodologies and performance analysis.

• Supporting the production and submission of the National Cost Collection.
• Assisting with the preparation and analysis of patient-level costing information.
• Reviewing complex financial data to ensure accuracy and integrity.
• Supporting national and local benchmarking exercises.
• Working collaboratively with finance colleagues to improve the quality and usefulness of financial reporting information.

The successful candidate will work with colleagues across Finance, Operational Services, Workforce and Corporate Departments, building strong relationships to support effective financial management across the organisation. The role requires someone who can confidently communicate financial information to both finance and non-finance audiences.

• Provide financial advice and support to colleagues across the Trust.
• Attend meetings on behalf of senior finance colleagues where required.
• Support the development of reporting processes and systems.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across the finance function.
• Ensure robust governance, internal control and data quality standards are maintained.

We are seeking someone with:

• Strong technical accounting knowledge and analytical skills.
• Experience working within a finance environment, ideally within the NHS or wider public sector.
• Excellent Excel and financial systems skills.
• An understanding of governance, financial controls and financial reporting.
• The ability to interpret and communicate…